Coke Quits Its ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Social Media Campaign

var addthis_config = {“data_track_addressbar”:true};Coca-Cola has called it quits — at least when it comes to online personalized virtual Coke cans. The international beverage giant had been offering personalized images of Coke cans online in their “Share A Coke” promotion, but if consumers wanted to write the word “gay” on the can the company’s website responded with, “Oops. Let’s pretend you didn’t just type that.”

In other words, “don’t say gay.”

Consumers, of course, could personalize their Coke cans with the words “straight,” “heterosexual,” or practically any other word.

But not “gay.”

LOOK: In Olympics Equality, Queer Nation Takes Gold Over Coca-Cola

 

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After LGBT activists complained, and after online media sites lambasted the company, the soft-drink producer took the virtual personalization tool down and added a real-world “Share A Coke” promotion.

Coke will now offer consumers up to two personalized cans — from a list of 489 pre-determined names.

Telling Buzzfeed they “apologise for any offense caused,” Coke adds that their “Share a Coke promotion did not properly limit the customisation to individuals’ names.”

We’ve taken down the site and are in the process of revising the digital tool immediately.

As one of the world’s most inclusive brands, we value and celebrate diversity. We have long been a strong supporter of the LGBT community and have advocated for inclusion, equality and diversity through both our policies and practices. Again we apologise for any offense this has caused.

That “inclusion” of course includes sponsoring the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and having their logo on the uniforms of Olympic security guards. Guards who are enforcing Russia’s own “don’t say gay” laws — laws that prohibit “homosexual propaganda,” like holding up a rainbow flag on the torch relay road to Sochi.

 

Previously:

Photos: LGBT Activists In Times Square Rally To ‘Dump Coke’ For Sponsoring Anti-Gay Olympics

Bloomberg Slams IOC: Sponsors Like Coke ‘Will Be Tied To Officially Anti-Gay Olympics’

 
Image via YouTube